Solomon Islands — 9DASHLINE

Fukushima’s waters: discharge decision, politics, and nuclear safety standards

Written by Shivani Singh and Chetan Rana

The fact that different states in the region, despite being exposed to similar risks, are not aligned in either supporting or protesting Japan’s decision is an indicator of the divisions being caused by the great power politics at play.

Faultlines9DLOctober 20, 2023Fukushima’s waters: discharge decision, politics, and standards of nuclear safety, 9dashline, Chetan Rana, Shivani Singh, Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear technology, Fukushima nuclear plant, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, discharge water, Japan, Fukushima disaster, nuclear accidents, Indo-Pacific, Tōhoku earthquake, tsunami, nuclear reactor, core meltdown, radioactive materials, safety culture, nuclear industry, seismic, reform, earthquake preparedness, seismic designs, nuclear facilities, phenomena, plant operators, Tokyo Electric Power Company, TEPCO, Nuclear and Industry Safety Agency, NISA, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, METI, mismanagement, safety inspections, power plant, international standards, commercial power reactors, Nuclear Regulatory Authority, Ministry of the Environment, disaster management, radioactive water, contaminated water, Fukushima reactors, ocean, Natural Resources and Energy, laws on nuclear safety, natural hazards, natural disasters, operational negligence, lax regulatory oversight, man-made disaster, China, Russia, North Korea, Sino-American great power competition, Pacific Islands, Solomon Islands, Fiji, ecological concerns, economic concerns, atomic tests, Runit Dome, US nuclear tests, Yoon Suk Yeol, Taiwan, Philippines, Cook Islands, Advanced Liquid Processing System, carbon-14, tritium, dilution, WHO, National Association of Marine Laboratories, NAML, UNCLOS, Paris Convention on Third Party Liability in the Field of Nuclear Energy, Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage, Convention on Nuclear Safety, CNS, earthquake, and nuclear safety standards, Pacific

Strategic competition in the South Pacific and its implications for New Zealand

Written by Dr Reuben Steff

While China’s activities are concerning, it should be made clear to Beijing that NZ’s and others’ responses in the security sphere are dependent on China’s approach to the region.

Gendered insecurities and gender-responsive security sector reform in the Indo-Pacific

Written by Dr Phyu Phyu Oo

Gender-responsive security sector reform shows promise in recognising the security threats to women and marginalised individuals, and working towards ending such violence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Editor's Picks9DLJune 20, 20239dashline, Gendered insecurities and gender-responsive security sector reform in the Indo-Pacific, PHYU PHYU OO, gender-based violence, sexual and gender-based violence, SGBV, human rights violations, gender-based vulnerabilities, man-made conflicts, natural disasters, pandemics, Indo-Pacific, COVID-19, COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 lockdowns, myanmar, Myanmar military coup, women peacebuilders, human rights defenders, gender-based harm, Pacific Islands, gender-based discrimination, structural issue, gender inequalities, LGBTQI+, Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia, minority ethnic populations, The Philippines, Myanmar, China, sexual humiliation, Sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, social protection support systems, gendered threats, harmful societal gender norms, societal gender norms, Indo-Pacific countries, structural state failures, state-based solutions, national security actors, gender-responsive security sector reform, security sector reform, SSR, gender-sensitive training, political instability, thailand, post-conflict state building, Solomon Islands, Australian Defence Force, gender-responsive practices, gender-sensitive practices, marginalised individuals, security needs, domestic security sector reform

The forgotten operation: What Australia’s Pacific policy can learn from the RAMSI intervention

Written by Dr Michael Wesley

If large numbers of Solomon Islanders see Australia as an indispensable partner, it will limit the ability of the country’s elected politicians to build closer partnerships with Australia’s strategic competitors in the Pacific.

Penny Wong: Rebuilding world orders with Australian multiculturalism

Written by Xuyang Dong

Australia is being remade into an active and helpful middle power in its region with its own agency, constructively and strategically navigating its presence in the geopolitics of growing China-US rivalry.

Pacific9DLMay 2, 20239DashLine, Penny Wong: Rebuilding world orders with Australian multiculturalism, Xuyang Dong, Penny Wong, Australia, multiculturalism, Anthony Albanese, Albanese Labor Government, Labor Party, Australian Labor Party, feminism, diversity, Malaysia, elite politics, representation, White Australia Policy, immigration, China, foreign policy, renewable energy, ‘shoe-leather' diplomacy, Southeast Asia, Pacific, First Nations, colonialism, First Nation foreign policy, British colonial history, balancing power, Liberal-National Coalition, United States, backyard, national interests, security pact, Solomon Islands, foreign aid, Beijing-Honiara security agreement, Morrison government, climate change, Blue Pacific, United Kingdom, British colonialism, Justin Mohamed, Ambassador for First Nations People, Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islanders, Hamish Fejo, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), indigenous peoples, Hugh White, empathy, cross-cultural, new world order, globalisation, middle power, geopolitics, China-US rivalry

The Bougainville Autonomous Region: Balancing independence and foreign relations

Written by Dr Lucas Knotter

While it is tempting to view the relatively small island of Bougainville as merely drifting into the geopolitical whirlwinds of more powerful actors in the region, we should not forget that Bougainville also maintains considerable leverage in relation to these actors.

Pacific, Emerging Issues9DLJanuary 31, 20239dashline, Bougainville, Bougainville Autonomous Region, Lucas Knotter, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, APEC, Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific, FTAAP, Antony Blinken, Papua New Guinea, US, James Marape, China, Xi Jinping, Pacific islands, Pacific island states, trade partner, Friend to all; Enemy to None, PNG, China-US tensions, Autonomous Region of Bougainville, ARB, 2019 referendum, PNG-US-China geopolitics, sovereignty, 2001 Bougainville Peace Agreement, Ishmael Toroama, Era Kone Covenant, post-referendum agreements, Bougainville independence, international recognition, independence, Panguna copper mine, natural resources, anti-colonial struggles, Australia, mine workers, environmental destruction, Bougainville Civil War, Sam Kauona, Belt and Road Initiative, Solomon Islands, 2021 unrest, Beijing, Global Fragility Act, GFA, 2015 Bougainville Mining Act, Taipei, Sovereign Wealth Fund, Richard Marles, defence

How and why Japan can be an alternative to China in the Indo-Pacific

Written by Kyoko Hatakeyama

Moreover, since Japan has maintained a stable relationship with China — despite their territorial disputes — the region does not have to worry about backlash or anger from China just because they choose Japan over China.

East Asia9DLDecember 16, 20229dashline, How and why Japan can be an alternative to China in the Indo-Pacific, Kyoko Hatakeyama, Japan, China, South China Sea, nine-dash line, Senkaku Island, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, RCEP, TPP, United States, Trans-Pacific Partnership, trade partner, Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, CPTPP, Tokyo, Beijing, regional economic integration, sphere of influence, Sino-centric order, infrastructure projects, G20 Principles for Quality Infrastructure Investment, G20, Trilateral Partnership for Infrastructure Investment, indo-pacific, Abeonomics, Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Abenomics, Shinzo Abe, South Korea, Taiwan, Jakarta, Bandung, Indonesia, Cambodia, debt, debt trap, Pacific Island states, Solomon Islands, Australia, New Zealand, COVID-19 crisis, COVAX, WHO, ASEAN, Sinovac, Laos, Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), Donald Trump, Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), ‘debt trap’ diplomacy, Asian Development Bank, Nauru, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Philippines, Vietnam, Philippine Coast Guards (PCG), Joko Widodo, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Natuna archipelago, Natuna Islands, USA

US interest in the Pacific Islands tested at Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders

Written by Henrietta McNeill and Joanne Wallis

This week’s meeting, and President Biden’s meeting with Pacific leaders, will both be key signals for how Pacific states are responding to the US’ sudden renewed interest in the region.

Pacific9DLSeptember 12, 20229DashLine, US interest in the Pacific Islands tested at Pacific Island Conference of Leaders, Henrietta McNeill, Joanne Wallis, US, Pacific Islands, Pacific Islands Forum, Pacific Island Conference of Leaders, regionalism, PICL, Hawaii, Fiji, 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, Micronesian five, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, China, Wang Yi, Timor-Leste, Frank Bainimarama, Kamala Harris, George Ariyoshi, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, David W. Panuelo, Micronesia, Northern Pacific Ocean, Guam, Compact of Free Association, CNMI, FSM, Marshall Islands, Pacific Islands Development Programme, Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific, East-West Center, US Congress, Honiara, Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Joe Biden, Manasseh Sogavare, Forum Fisheries Agency, Australia, New Zealand

Papua New Guinea in 2022: Key issues and future challenges

Written by Teddy Winn

The challenge for the incoming government will be to continue upholding PNG’s foreign policy practice of ‘friends to all, enemies to none’ while not destabilising existing bilateral arrangements the country has with its regional partners, including its closest and long-time partner, Australia.

Stemming the tide: The strength of Pacific regionalism

Written by Alan Tidwell

For the Pacific Islands, bilateral deals with the PRC may chip away at the regional consensus over time, but in turn, Beijing’s energy will inevitably spark new challenges to regionalism.

The Quad’s persistent PR problem

Written by Kate Clayton

If the Quad follows through on its vaccine commitment to the region, they have an opportunity to become a staple in the regional architecture but if they don’t, the region will likely remain unconvinced about the benefits of the Quad and its ability to combat security issues in the Indo-Pacific.

Australian election 2022 — security, foreign policy and climate change

Written by Kate Clayton

However, it is still too close to call, as demonstrated by the 2019 election where Labor’s predicted win did not actually materialise. If the Labor Party is elected, the Indo-Pacific will likely see a more proactive and engaged Australia that centres regionalism and climate change at the heart of its foreign policy strategy.

New Zealand’s strategy in the Pacific: Intentional and consistent

Written by Henrietta McNeill

New Zealand’s approach in the Pacific is intentionally predicated on having long-standing trusted relationships with the Pacific Islands region, emphasising Pacific agency rather than acting reactively and impulsively.

Marcos Jr.’s Philippine foreign policy: What it means for the Indo-Pacific

Written by Joshua Bernard Espeña

It is unlikely that Manila will join Washington in balancing against Beijing — Marcos Jr has already made this clear. Neither will the country bandwagon with Beijing given domestic pressures driven by fears over creeping Chinese influence.

Pacific9DLMay 13, 2022Marcos Jr.’s Philippine foreign policy: What it means for the Indo-Pacific, Joshua Bernard Espeña, Philippines, China, United States, US, Bongbong, Marcos Jr, Indo-Pacific, South China Sea, Cold War, Filipino, Rodrigo Duterte, Manila, Washington, Philippinedisation, Solomon Islands, Belt and Road Initiative, BRI, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Taiwan, Quad, Australia, AUKUS, Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, Build Back Better World, Beijing, 2016 arbitral ruling, Association of the Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Code of Conduct, COC, ASEAN-China Code of Conduct, Chinese Coast Guard, International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, COLREGS, COVID-19, pandemic, Debt Trap, Sri Lanka, Hambantota Port, Ned Price, US State Department, Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement, EDCA, People’s Liberation Army-Navy, International Development Security Cooperation, Rise of Philippinedization: Philippinedization

Liberalism from below: The Global South, Ukraine and the Liberal International Order

Written by Indrajit Roy

Of the 141 countries that condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, over 90 are from the Global South. Criticisms of Russia are thus not confined to European or North American countries.

Faultlines9DLApril 12, 20229DASHLINE, Indrajit Roy, Liberal International Order, Global South, LIO, Non-Aligned Movement, China, India, Pakistan, South Africa, UNGA, Russia, Putin, Ukraine, Zelensky, Middle East and North Africa Region, MENA, Rule of law, Eurocentric, Second World War, Atlantic Charter, UN, United Nations, US, UK, USSR, Kenya, Haiti, Nepal, Liberia, multilateralism, rules-based order, liberal internationalism, Potsdam, Tehran, Yalta, Bandung Conference, South Korea, Trinidad and Tobago, Nigeria, Antigua, Barbados, Cote d'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Palau, colonisation, colonialism, Maldives, Martin Kimani, Liberalism from below: The Global South, Ukraine and the Liberal International Order, Asia Pacific, Nations General Assembly, Middle East, North Africa, Latin America, internationalism, WW2, United States, United Kingdom, Multilateralism, Asia, Africa, Trinidad, Non-alignment, University of York

Solomon Islands stress: what happened, why and what does it all mean?

Written by Tess Newton Cain

The other development, which has received very little attention, was the reported departure of 140 “traumatised” Chinese nationals from the Solomon Islands by chartered flight to Guangzhou.

Pushing the limits of Australia’s strategic imagination in the Pacific Islands

Written by Joanne Wallis

Pacific Island leaders have developed ‘tactical, shrewd and calculating approaches’ towards using their agency to exploit strategic competition between powers to pursue their own priorities, including greater access to aid, concessional loans, military assistance, and international influence.